Shelley retells a Homeric hymn about Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. The poem calls on the Muses to praise these brothers, born on a wild mountain, one gentle and the other a tamer of horses, both destined for renown. But their real work is saving those in peril: earth-born mortals and especially ships racing over the waves. The scene drops us into a savage winter storm at sea. Sailors huddle at the prow, trembling, calling out to the Twins with prayers and sacrifices. Just when the wind and a towering wave are about to overwhelm the staggering ship, the gods appear—rushing on yellow wings through the sky. Instantly they hush the blasts into motionless quiet and smooth the waves into a white bed beneath the hull. The mood shifts from terror to a kind of hushed, joyful relief. Shelley’s speaker marvels at this sudden mercy, and we feel the sailors’ exhaustion give way to safe delight as they glide on in peace.
Homer's Hymn to Castor and Pollux — Summary
Ye wild-eyed Muses, sing the Twins of Jove, Whom the fair-ankled Leda, mixed in love With mighty Saturn's Heaven-obscuring Child, On Taygetus, that lofty mountain wild, Brought forth in joy: mild Pollux, void of blame, And steed-subduing Castor, heirs of fame. These are the Powers who earth-born mortals save And ships, whose flight is swift along the wave. When wintry tempests o'er the savage sea Are raging, and the sailors tremblingly Call on the Twins of Jove with prayer and vow, Gathered in fear upon the lofty prow, And sacrifice with snow-white lambs,--the wind And the huge billow bursting close behind, Even then beneath the weltering waters bear The staggering ship--they suddenly appear, On yellow wings rushing athwart the sky, And lull the blasts in mute tranquillity, And strew the waves on the white Ocean's bed, Fair omen of the voyage; from toil and dread The sailors rest, rejoicing in the sight, And plough the quiet sea in safe delight.